FR Doc E7-4727
[Federal Register: March 15, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 50)]
[Notices]
[Page 12190-12191]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr07-86]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA. The human remains were removed from Plymouth County, MA.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3).
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation
with representatives of the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation on
behalf of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts;
Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation, a non-federally recognized Indian
group; and Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe, a non-federally recognized
Indian group.
[[Page 12191]]
Between 1890 and 1900, human remains representing a minimum of two
individuals were removed from Watson's Hill, south side of Town Brook,
in Plymouth, Plymouth County, MA, by the Douglas family while the
family was digging a cellar for their house. The human remains were
transferred to Dr. George H. Jackson of Plymouth at an unknown date. In
1939, the human remains were donated to the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology by Dr. Jackson through the Pilgrim Society of
Plymouth. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
Osteological characteristics indicate that the individuals are
Native American. The interments most likely date to the Late Woodland
period or later (post-A.D. 1000). Historical documentation, as well as
information from the Pilgrim Society, describes Watson's Hill as a
known Late Woodland (A.D. 1000-1500) and Historic/Contact period (post-
A.D. 1500) Native American site. Oral tradition and historical
documentation also indicate that Plymouth is within the aboriginal and
historic homeland of the Wampanoag Nation. The present-day tribes that
are most closely affiliated with the Wampanoag Nation are the Wampanoag
Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts; Assonet Band of the
Wampanoag Nation, a non-federally recognized Indian group; and Mashpee
Wampanoag Indian Tribe, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains
described above represent the physical remains of two individuals of
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology also have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that
can be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and
the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts.
Furthermore, officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology have determined that there is a cultural relationship between
the human remains and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation, a non-
federally recognized Indian group, and Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe,
a non-federally recognized Indian group.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Patricia
Capone, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138,
telephone (617) 496-3702, before April 16, 2007. Repatriation of the
human remains to the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation on behalf of
the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts; Assonet
Band of the Wampanoag Nation, a non-federally recognized Indian group;
and Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe, a non-federally recognized Indian
group may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come
forward.
The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is responsible for
notifying the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, Wampanoag Tribe of
Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts; Assonet Band of the Wampanoag
Nation, a non-federally recognized Indian group; and Mashpee Wampanoag
Indian Tribe, a non-federally recognized Indian group that this notice
has been published.
Dated: January 30, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-4727 Filed 3-14-07; 8:45 am]
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